Invasion of Fort York April 27th, 1813

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Transcript of Invasion of Fort York April 27th, 1813

April 27th 2013

Leaders, Fools and Opportunists Invasion of Muddy York

Presentation Glenn McKnight and Robert Bell,
FBSC

Welcome everyone to our series on the War of 1812

Leaders, Fools and Opportuniists summarizes the range of participants in the war.Some fought and died for a cause. Some didn't

British

8,600 Deaths

Early capture of Fort Dearborn, Michilimackinac, Fort Detroit, Fort Niagara and much of eastern Maine

1523 ships captured

Many prisoners

25 Million pounds to the national debt

Canada

Unknown death Toll of Militia and citizens

Untold personal property loss from burning and looting of property

Human pain and suffering

Cost of the War

US

11,600 Deaths

Captured Amherstburg and Sandwich (now Windsor

$90 million dollars or 2.2% of GDP or 1.553 Trillion

The US Senate figured it would cost another $56 million to continue the war and the US Treasury only had $15 million

1,523 US Ships seized during the war

Serious financial loss to commerce in the New England states

Near bankruptcy

The war has been waging since April 16th and we are looking for men between 15 and 65 to join the local militia .It;s your civic duty Fame and fortune awaits you

Big Picture of the War

Invasion of York

Local Oshawa Response

Impact of the War

Table of Contents

Our presentation will deal with the above

The Project

Heritage Canada selected the Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities, FBSC to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812

Website. Mobile Phone app's. Mobile Augmented Reality Videos, Historical Geocaching, Audio recordings and presentations

The Big Picture

It's been 10 months since the war was declared.

Fort Mickalac was captured on General Brock and Techumsch captured Fort Detroit on ____ General Brock was killed in October 1012 at Queenston Heights

It was now time to bring the US military to bear on the sleeping town of Muddy York General Dearborn and his 'posse' prepared for the onslaught

The US expansion was seriously curtailed to the west by the native americans. Tribes such as the Chickasaw, Shawnee, Miami, Chippewa, Ojibwi and Patawatomi

British support to these tribes with trade guns, supplies and moral support infuriated the Americans

Migration into Upper Canada was easier and desired

Strike wherever we can reach the enemy, at sea and on land. But if we fail, let us fail like men, lash ourselves to our gallant gars, and expire together in one common struggle, fighting for free trade and seaman's rights.

Henry Clay,
House Speaker, US SenateDuring the War of 1812

The War Hawks in the US lead by Henry Clay was anxious to strike at the British.

A major grievance being the empressment of US citizens by the British navy into the growing British navy.

From 1803 the British had an major naval embargo on the European ports stopping all US trade to the continent seriously hurting the US trade and commerce

AmericaPresident James Madison declared war on June 16, 1812

Divided country on the war effort with New England states in opposition

Major reason for declarationAngry over the impressment of US Sailors into the British Navy

Military Preparedness

An army of less than 12,000

A navy of 16 ships

Poor military leadership

OverconfidentAccording to Pres. Thomas Jefferson, The war was a `mere march to Montreal

American Perspective

BritainDue to the assassination of the British Prime Minister the British didn't declare war until late December 1812

Preoccupied with a long war in Europe against Napoleon 1803-1815.

Britain was the most powerful empire in the world, with

An army of 48,000

A navy of 600 warships

But .......only 1500 British soldiers in Upper Canada

British Perspective of War

Upper Canada and Lower Canada, Newfoundland and the Maritimes had a few forts and ________professional soldiers

The defence of Canada was a major concern

The Aggressors8 million Americans

Three types of soldiers,
The Idealist, Opportunists and the Blood Thirsty

The Targets500,000 Total settlers

80,000 Upper Canada settlers35,000 Loyalist

25,000 Later Loyalist

20,000 Direct British

3/4 former Americans

14,000 Militia

10,000 Natives

The Protagonists

June 16 Declaration of WarJuly 17 Capture of Fort MackinacAugust 15 Fort Dearborn (Chicago)August 16 Fort DetroitSeptember 3-6 Western Raids


1813
October 13 Queenston Heights

January 22 FrenchtownApril 27 York (Toronto)

1

Battles Leading Up

Founded by Sir John Graves Simcoe in 1789 as the capital of Upper Canada

625 population

Undetermined number of hogs, sheep and other misc. cattle

The civil administrator was the successor to Sir. Issac Brock was Major General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe

Life in Muddy York

Built in 1793

Size of garrison 200 regular troops

Artillery3 - 12 pounders

3 - 18 pounders (obsolete)

Fort York

On April 26, the American invasion forces of 14 ships were spotted from Scarborough Bluffs sailing from the east

Militia was summoned by the signal cannon

Sheaffe confident that battle would start early next day and took little action

Attack started at 8 am

Invasion of York

On April 27th, 1813 Admiral Chauncey and General Dearborn sailed into York with a fleet of 14 ships and 2,500 men

300 British regulars, 300 militia and 100 natives

Main prize to seize the Sir Issac Brock warship under construction

Invasion of York

Death of
Gen. Zebulon Pike

The troops under Major General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe spiked the cannons and mustered their troops and fled out of YorkOnly the regulars knew of the order

A massive explosion from the gunpower magazine killed or wounded 250 Americans

Explosion was heard as far at Fort George and Oshawa

Fatal Explosion

Three Times a Charm

The Americans attacked two more times and on the third and final visit they were repelled

Leadership

in Crisis

Major General Sheaffe and his 150 troops of British regulars plus militia made haste out of York, burning the Don Bridge

The citizens abandoned!

Fools

General SheafTe began to think intently of his own safety. Mounting his horse he rides eastward, down King Street towards Kingston, and leaves his troops to follow more leisurely on foot. It is twelve miles from Toronto to Scarborough, where Levi Annis lived at his hotel. His testimony was that General Sheaffe appeared before his hotel door with his horse quite done up, and covered with foam. On going to the door and asking as to the trouble

Retreating soldiers stayed at the Lynde House which was one of the Dispatch Stations They were robbed by the soldiers of 83 pounds.

Lynde Family in Whitby

General SheafTe began to think intently of his own safety. Mounting his horse he rides eastward, down King Street towards Kingston, and leaves his troops to follow more leisurely on foot. It is twelve miles from Toronto to Scarborough, where Levi Annis lived at his hotel. His testimony was that General Sheaffe appeared before his hotel door with his horse quite done up, and covered with foam. On going to the door and asking as to the trouble

Leaders

The wreck of the Speedy in 1804 created a power vacuum. Now the rapid retreat of the British and Militia and the looting of the American troops required strong leadership.

One man stands out:

Rev Dr John Strachan

General SheafTe began to think intently of his own safety. Mounting his horse he rides eastward, down King Street towards Kingston, and leaves his troops to follow more leisurely on foot. It is twelve miles from Toronto to Scarborough, where Levi Annis lived at his hotel. His testimony was that General Sheaffe appeared before his hotel door with his horse quite done up, and covered with foam. On going to the door and asking as to the trouble

Bisl a

Local

Oshawa

Response

The cannon fire was heard as far as Oshawa

A group of local militia rushed to defend York

Local farmers reported seeing the British and militia fleeing from York

Local Response

Moode Farewell and Wife

The cannon fire and explosion was heard at Moode Farewell tavern

Roger Conant and othes hauled canon to the defesne of York

Local Involvement

Local Oshawa militia upon arrival at Muddy York were immediately captured by the Americans

The York Militia records show that militia men participated

They were imprisoned for a few days then paroled.

The Americans left on May 2nd,

Opportunists

Occupation lasted five days

Before leaving they burned the legislative buildings and looted homes and businesses

Upon Americans retreat they and opened the store house and distributed goods

Impact

Total killed or wounded in the six-hour battle were 157 British and 320 Americans.5 Natives killed , inc. Two chiefs5 Natives wounded5 Militia killed 5 Militia wounded22 Number of claims for losses

Retaliation for

Burning

of

York

Impact of the War

Americans

Huge financial cost

Unsuccessful in campaign

Formation of a professional army

Licence to expand west

Open season on Native lands

Building of the Erie Canal

Bolster US manufacturing and cotton production

Canadians

Birth of legends

Forging of an identity

Military experience proved to be critical in the formation of communities

Building and completion of the Rideau Canal to bypass the St Lawrence in 1832 from US blockade

Tougher stance on US immigration and intolerance to Republican sentiments

Seeds set for the Rebellion of 1837

Website www.1812waroshawa.com

Historical Geocaching

Augmented Reality

10 Part Video Series

Video Series

Propaganda and an American Soldier

Robbery of Local Homestead by Militia

Compensation to local farmers

US POW Camp

Conant`s Gold

Attack on Oshawa Harbour

Tecumseh

The Amputation

General Issac Brock

Mary Henry, The other Heroine

Augmented Reality

All five of the Geocache locations have a short AR video viewable from a smart phone

Mobile Application

Apps for Android and Iphone applications for your Smart phone

Available at ITUNES and GOOGLE PLAY

FREE

IPAD Mobile Application

A free IPAD App focused on Historical Geocaching

Available at ITUNES

FREE

Thanks

Heritage CanadaFoundation for Building Sustainable Communities Oshawa Community MuseumImperial Arts ProductionsOshawa Little TheatrePickering VillageClarington MuseumDigital Deceptions

Upcoming

Doors Open Oshawa on September 21st come see our demonstration gardens of the War of 1812 and the Three Sisters Native plantings at the Canadian Victory Garden At Winchester (West of Simcoe Streets)

Learn More

To learn more about FBSC Projects visit Http://www.fbsc.org